CLASS INFO - Music Together®sessions typically meet once-a-week for 45 minutes for 10 weeks. In the summer we may offer a 6 week session. Each session includes songs, rhythmic rhymes, movement and instrument play. These activities are presented as informal, non-performance oriented musical experiences developmentally appropriate for children and easy for parents and caregivers, regardless of their own musical ability. Each semester families receive an illustrated songbook full of music-making ideas, a CD and code to download the music onto any device as well as access to our Family Music Zone where you can listen to the music from wherever you are. You can also check out the educational and fun content that will be posted on a regular basis: song activities, videos, coloring pages and more! Membership in the Music Together community is far more than a once-per-week fun activity. The Family Music Zone helps to extend the learning and fun! In addition, families new to the program receive a musical growth chart and a 50 page booklet, "Music and Your Child" written by Ken Guilmartin, Founder or Music Together and Lili Levinowitz, PhD., Professor of Music Education, Rowan University.

SIBLING REGISTRATION INFO - If you are registering a child who has a sibling who is under 9 months old on the beginning date of a particular semester, the sibling is free but MUST be registered.

YOUR CONTACT INFO –We’ll be keeping in touch with you via email mostly – please check it often.If a family member is bringing your child to class but your email is given as the contact please be sure to forward any emails to them or give me their email address/phone # as well. It's important everyone know what to expect in an upcoming class or if there's something I need to share.

*Because the information you gave during registration is the only way we have of getting in touch with you, please doublecheck the info is correct (sometimes a number or letter are wrong) and be sure to let us know if any of your contact info changes. Thanks.

PAYMENTS/REFUNDS - Full payment must be made before the first class in order to hold your place in class and receive your materials. Refunds are not available after the first class. Tuition refunds issued prior to the first class are subject to a $20 processing fee. If a check is returned for insufficient funds, payment in cash will be required as well as the bank fee paid.

CANCELLATION POLICIES - *Kindly let me know if you're unable to attend class(call or text me at: 207-351-0134. Please include your child's and your names in text. You may also email me before 8 AM at sammiekids@aol.comThis is because we have 2 slots slated for makeups in our classes. Sometimes our classes are very full. If you know you can't make it and are able to let me know it could open up a space for another family hoping to do a makeup. And what if no one came? I'd really like to know before I make the trip! :) Thanks.

WEATHER EVENTS:

If public schools in RSU 35 (South Berwick/Eliot, Maine), RSU 21 (Kennebunk), or SAU 16 (Exeter, NH) are canceled due to inclement weather, our Music Together class at those locations will also be canceled. Usually if schools are postponed for 1-2 hours we will cancel any classes which meet before 10:45. Our 10:45 classes on will run - unless there's a later storm which we'll play by ear.

Saturday classes: I'll touch base with you if things are looking "iffy". Please also feel free to contact me if the weather is bad where you are. I'd like to know. Thanks.

During school vacations we'll be playing it all by ear. If you're in Exeter, please feel free to let me know how bad the driving is in your area as I'm traveling from South Berwick, ME and our weather is often different in the winter. Thanks!

*It's very important that you sign up for our SMS messaging if you have a cell phone when you register. If classes are canceled and provided I have power, I'll send out a short text message to you as well as an email announcement, post on our website home page and our Facebook page. PLEASE CHECK your phone, email and/or our website home page before you venture out and let me know when you receive notice of cancellation so I don't need to call and track you. If you're unsure whether or not we're meeting please call or text (preferable) me WITH YOUR NAME for confirmation at: 207-351-0134. Thank you!

Teacher Illness/Other Reasons for Cancellation:

If a class needs to be canceled with little notice for reasons other than the weather, I'll send out a short text message, post the cancellation on our website home page,FaceBookpageandemail you, as above You’ll be asked to confirm that you received the information if we don’t make direct contact. You may text (207-351-0134) or email me (sammiekids@aol.com). This is important because otherwise I need to call everyone separately. Thanks so much.

*PLEASE NOTE:If a class is canceled due to a weather event, teacher illness or another unforeseen reason, we will add on a class at the end of the semester where permitted - same time/day.Please consider this when registering if it won't work within your schedule. You can make up that class at another meeting time during the same semester if that works better for you but a refund cannot be given.

SICK POLICY - Please stay home if you or your child/ren are sick or may still be contagious. Many medical professionals say you're contagious if you're still exhibiting symptoms. Just think whether you'd want your child to be exposed to a child (or adult) who was exhibiting your child’s or your own symptoms to help you make the right decision. There are a lot of allergies which present as bad colds. If you let us know your child has an allergy, while we'll be sorry about that, we'll all breathe a sigh of relief that it's not something contagious. :)

MAKEUP CLASSES - As a courtesy to our families we allow up to two makeup classes per semester at any Treetops Music location on a space-available basis within the current session. However, if you or your child are ill more often, please talk with us about it. Makeups may not be carried over to the next semester. You may schedule a makeup by registering online here and follow the prompts or just log on to the website and select "Schedule A Makeup". For planned vacations or appointments, pre-makeups are allowed.

If a Demo class is offered you may also make up a class then. Please understand due to scheduling we may not be able to offer a convenient demo and it may not be convenient for you to do a makeup at the time and location classes are offered. We're sorry if that causes any inconvenience. Most families feel the program is well worth the cost of tuition even if a class is missed.

PREVIEWING CLASSES/DEMOS - We are excited about new families previewing our classes! A preview is recommended for those who are unsure about registering. We offer demo classes usually before each new session, however, they may take place on a day or time you cannot attend. If that's the case, please contact us prior to the beginning of the first class of a new session about the possibility of reserving a space in the class for you and your child/ren to preview the class. If there is room we'll be happy to have you join us during that class. If the class you are scheduled to preview fills before your date, we may ask you to make a different choice. If you do the preview during a different semester than you register for there is no obligation, the demo is free. If it's early enough in the session and you do want to register for the semester the full tuition payment must be paid.

IN-CLASS POLICIES -

***IMPORTANT: We're not allowing sparkles to be worn in classes anymore because of the risk they pose in getting into children's eyes. I agree sparkles are beautiful but please understand this is for everyone's safety. Thank you.

GOOEY BASKET - Everyone please go on "goo patrol" while in class by keeping your eyes on any instruments that go in children's mouths and placing them in the goody basket (We'll point it out to you). When in doubt, send it to the goo! The instruments will be disinfected immediately after class or feel free to take care of it yourself with the wipes provided. Hand sanitizer is also provided. If we work together we can help keep everyone healthy!

GUESTS - Additional caregivers and adult family members are very welcome with prior permission from the director. We need to know ahead of time if an extra person is coming so that the class isn't too large on any one day. And we're happy to have an older sibling or visiting cousin come to a class occasionally but it is absolutely necessary to obtain permission if you wish to bring another child. Depending on the size of our class we may need to limit you to just one, maybe two guests/class. Guests, adults and children, must participate with us and not sit out on the sidelines as it's distracting for the kids and our classes are "music together". If you bring another child more than twice a semester a "drop-in" fee of $10 will be charged after the 2nd time. Again you must receive permission for an unregistered child to attend and it shouldn't be a regular thing.

TARDINESS (don't worry!) - We hope that everyone will be on time for our classes, and in fact we hope you'll come a little early (5" is fine) to settle in and enjoy listening to a little before-class music and to play the gathering drum! Longer than 10” beforehand may prove to be too much time in one setting for some children and before the end of class they might become fussy. However, we understand that occasionally circumstances may keep people from arriving on time. Please don’t worry and come anyway! If you’re running behind please just quietly come in and join us!

CONVERSATION -While we understand and appreciate the value of parents and caregivers connecting and making friends in our classes, and know that it is a natural inclination to want to talk to one another between songs, we ask that you try to keep the conversation to a bare minimum and save socializing for before and after class. The class environment which will most benefit your child musically is one where they are immersed in the music without distractions. They need the quiet space in between songs to process the music they've just heard!

FOOD, DRINKS - Due to food allergies and in the interest of keeping our instruments clean and our focus on making music, we ask our families to please leave food and drinks outside the classroom. It's hard and possibly dangerous to move, sing and play instruments while eating or drinking!

Of course if your child needs to nurse or have a bottle please feel free to take them out of our circle to a quiet spot while feeding or stay right where you are if you have another child with you and you're comfortable doing that. If there's a lot of action in the room please consider moving away from our circle.

Water bottles are allowed, however, for safety, please keep them up on a table or shelf so they don't become a stumbling object. Sometimes it's disruptive for children to see someone else having a drink (this includes breastfeeding - as a child may be weaning!). If if there's an issue we'll let you know.

LEAVE TOYS, STUFFED ANIMALS, BOOKS AT HOME - Please do not bring toys, stuffed animals or books to class unless it's "Bring Your Favorite Stuffed Animal to Class" day, which we have occasionally, as it's distracting for your child and for other children. If there's a real need to make an exception please let us know and we'll try to work something out. Thanks. :)

CELL PHONES - Please refrain from the use of cell phones during class. We understand that some parents may need to keep their phones with them in case of serious circumstances. However, if this is the case, please set your phone on VIBRATE, and silence the ringer. If you must take a call, please do so outside the classroom taking your child with you.

PHOTOS/VIDEOS - While we understand adults wanting to capture what we do on film, it becomes a distraction to the class and takes the focus off of crucial adult caregiver role-modeling for your children. It also places thought on "performance" rather than "participation" -- participation rather than performance is the emphasis of our program! Also, some people may not be comfortable with picture taking in class. If you would like to have more photos or a video, we can stage a little bit after class with the drum or a few instruments. And we allow photos during our last classes but please limit yourself to a few pics, then return to making music with your child. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

With written permission of class members, I may request some photo-taking be allowed from time to time to post on the website or flyers. Names will not be used and it's certainly fine if you do not want to participate.

SAFETY -Music Together is unique in the fact that the children in our classes do not have to do anything! Nothing is expected of them except that they remain safe. They can fall asleep or crawl or move around -- as long as it is safe behavior it is perfectly acceptable. So we don’t have many rules, but we do have a few that we ask you to help us enforce. With your cooperation we will create a most safe and harmonious classroom environment.

1. Running is not allowed in the classroom. It is perfectly fine if your child decides to move around during class, and in fact may be a natural part of their learning process to do so. However, we ask that they use their “walking feet” or "dancing feet" and not run. Please take your child's hand and move along with your little one hopefully slowing them down. Your teacher may talk with you about a plan to help slow down the little runner if needed such as stepping out of class for a short time and joining us again once they've calmed down.

2. Throwing instruments (or anything) is not allowed in the classroom. Children have many opportunities to explore instruments in our classes. We ask you to help us see that they are treated gently and never thrown into the air or at others. Your help in assuring that the instruments are gently placed back into their baskets is most appreciated.

3. Rough-housing is not allowed. Music Together is about family music. And in a family we are not all the same age or the same size. We ask that everyone treat each other gently and to be especially respectful of the little ones in our classes.

4. Caregivers must remain in the room during class. We ask that your children are within each caregiver’s sight and within their reach during our classes for the harmony and well being of all participants.

5. Please physically participate at your comfort level. We'll be sitting a lot on the floor and moving around the room as well. Be very careful when you have a child in your arms. Do not feel you need to keep up with the movements we're doing if you don't feel you can safely do them. If you need to use a chair just let us know.

Thank you so much for respecting one another, the program and the premises. We're looking forward to making Music Together with you and your family!